Method of treating stable mobile fuels



Patented Feb. 6, 1923.

UNITED STATES LINDON WALLACE BATES, OF MOUNT LEBANON, NEW YORK.

METHOD OF TREATING STABLE MOBILE FUELS.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LINDON W. BATES, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Mount Lebanon, in the county of Columbia and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Treating Stable Mobile Fuels, of which .the following is a specification.

This invention pertains to a process in the fuel art. More specifically it pertains to the transformation of the stable mobile fuel described in my copending application, Serial No. 315,497, filed on August 5, 1919, Patent No. 1,390,228, September 6, 1921 directed toward a Fuel and method of producing same. The said fuel called Colloidal fuel consists of particles of solid carbonaceous substance and liquid hydrocarbon stabilized by the use of certain substances and by the mechanical or heat treatment or both appropriate for properly commingling the components. Among the stabilizing substances ma be mentioned lime-rosin grease and coal dlstillates or equivalent stabilizing or stabilizing and peptizing materials. The particles in the fuel are found in three states of dispersion, the molecular, colloidal and suspension. This is due to the fact that the carbonaceous substance is reduced by pulverization or otherwise so that about eightyfive per cent passes a two hundred mesh screen. In a batch of coal, for example, so pulverized most of the particles are of suspension size, .while comparatively smaller quantities are reduced to" colloidal. dimensions or to molecules. Up to 40% by weight of particles may be carried in a liquid fuel and 75% in a paste. This tri-state fuel is excellent for burning and for gas making purposes in particular, and ma 1 also be used in Diesel engines and semiiesel engines when the spavenging system is adjusted thereto. Liquids or pastes may form gels.

On the other hand a composite fuel which contained only colloidal and molecular particles could be used in internal combustion engines without change in the scavenging system from its oil adjustment. Colloids of coal in oil for use in internal combustion engines are known, but only small amounts of carbonaceous substance have been so reduced and to accomplish the result it has been necessary heretofore to reduce material of susension size to colloidal size by disk grindmg or hammering with lengthy trituration at high speed or high pressure, a method Application filed February 6, 1920. Serial No. 356,689.

unsuited to industrial needs. It has been found, however, that a fuel suitable for internal combustion engines without apparatus changes may be obtained from the tristate fuel described in my copending application. This invention proposes to treat the said fuel in such a fashion as to produce therefrom two distinct varieties. The one variety is a colloid-like liquid combustible of moderate viscosity containing particles. of carbonaceous substance many of which are in the colloid and molecular state and some of which are in the suspension state. The other is a paste in which the carbonaceous particles are mostly of suspension size. To produce these two varieties it is necessary to add one or more steps to the colloidalizing process described in my copending application. The result may be accomplished by separating all or some of the suspension particles from the colloidal fuel.

uspension particles may be removed in a number of ways from the tri-state fuel as produced. For example, the fuel may be centrifuged, which separates out a considerable portion of the larger particles. Or again the equilibrium of stability of the fuel .may be modified by reducing its viscosity very materially, as by prolonged and extreme heat or as by adding bcnzol,-alcohol or someother suitable liquid or substance,

- and then allowing the suspension particles to settle out. Another way to separate the components is to force the fuel through cheese cloth, linen, filter paper or ,porcelain. Such treatment retains on the filter or screen many of the larger particles, and in the case of porcelain filters only the colloidal and molecular particles pass with the oil.

The liquid fuel remaining after the removal of centrifuged particles is practically colloidal coal in oil, since most of the larger particles have been removed. The same is true of the tri-state fuel whose stability has been terminated as regards the larger particles when these have been removed upon settling. If a fine filter is used a true colloid may be obtained. A combination of these methods may be employed. In practice it is not necessary to remove all the suspension particles, as internal combustion engines can readily use without changes a liquid fuel which is not filled. with a multiplicity of particles of suspension size. The further treatment herein described may stop short therefore of a transformation of the tri- '0 them a certainnumber of. the smaller part1 and form a statle fuel into one or more mono or bi-state e s. It is entirely possible also to take the in- ;ternal combustion engine fuel produced from colloidal fuel and to 're'colloidalize it, adding further carbonaceous particles. Particles of suspension size in the new lot, added may also be removed, leaving a produce richer in colloidal and molecular particles. v

The removed larger particles carry wlth cles and associated oil or liquid, fuel paste which is of economic value. The

paste is not necemarily wholly in the suspension state, inasmuch as particles within 001- loidal dimensions are still found init. This paste may be used as such or may be treated with further oil or liquid to form a more fluid fuel similar, tothe original colloidal cles. 4 I Or again the paste residue after the refuel but containing-' fewer colloidal partimoval of thelighter fuel from the separated particles may bebriquetted or otherwise dealt. with as desired. To make a briquette. 'or a road compound it may be necessary to add hardening substancesf I The process herein des'cribed'results in l the production of two varieties of colloidal fuel or really sub-varieties. From the original :fuel containing particles in three states of dispersion, two varieties have been de-' rived, the one containing most of the colloidal and molecular particles of that fuel,

and the other containing most of the suspension particles. 7

the's ame basic fuel may be still further Each of these varieties of 7 treated in' view of the difi erent classes of v uses for which it is adapted; 4o

lit maybe advantageous-to add internal combustion engine fuel. or like liquid hydrocarbon to-the liquid variety. Thus alco hol or gasoline maybe usedtherewith. '-The treatment. does, not adversely afiect the sta.--

bility of the two varieties, each of which will be stable.- llll fttoli, the stability of the vv'ention what ll claim. is

liquid variety is enhanced. The two varieties may each serve a useful purpose and may undergo further transformations before use. 1

Since a perfect separation of the suspension particles is not to be anticipated each of the products resembles fuel roducts covered.

in'my said'co ending app ication, but the method of prod iicing the new varieties difl'ers in the present case from the original colloidalizing rocessin view of the additional steps. s these products are all simply further examples of the fuel covered, by my vcopending application, I do'not claim herein the said products but I do claim the method involving the additional process steps which are employed to produce them.

Having: thus stated thefnature of my inmately .85% would pass a 200 mesh screen.

commingling the same with liquid hydrocar bon and stabilizing substance, removing suspension-sizedparticlcs; and adding further liquidhydrocarbon to the remaining liquid. 3. That method of producing a. stable liquid fuel which consists in pulverizing solid carbonaceoussubstance so that approximately 85% would pass a 200 mesh screen, commingling the same with liquid hydrocan bon and a'small amount of lime-rosin soap 'or equivalentstabilizing substance, and removing pension sized particles.

Signed at NewYork cit New York and State of Ni aw York, this 4th dayof'll ehrua IQA. D. 1920.

" lLllN WALLACE BATES.

in the county of 

